Book Provides Insight into Litigation Valuation

May 16, 2012 08:00 AM

CHICAGO (May 17, 2012) – Litigation valuation is a fascinating discipline that offers qualified real estate appraisers a wide range of opportunities, according to a new book by the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers.

“Applications in Litigation Valuation: A Pragmatist’s Guide,” published this week by the Appraisal Institute, is intended to help appraisers who are new to litigation valuation or have experience, but want to expand their practice.

“Litigation valuation is undeniably an interesting and rewarding discipline of real property appraisal,” Appraisal Institute President Sara W. Stephens, MAI, wrote in the book’s foreword. “Most people dread the possibility of being called to appear in court, but many appraisers seek out assignments that will put them on the front lines of disputes between condemning authorities and property owners, spouses in divorce proceedings, or other parties involved in contentious legal situations.”

“Applications in Litigation Valuation: A Pragmatist’s Guide,” compiled by authors Jeffrey A. Johnson, MAI, and Stephen J. Matonis, MAI, MRICS, provides a compilation of case studies that allows professionals with an assignment in litigation (such as a lawyer, an experienced appraiser or possibly a person new to the field of litigation valuation) to develop a basic understanding of the real estate valuation principles and techniques for various litigation assignments by seeing how other appraisers have handled these scenarios. Actual appraisal litigation assignments covered in the book include eminent domain and condemnation, title issues, environmental contamination and taxation.

The book also presents an overview of the fundamentals of litigation appraisal, including a discussion of the appraiser’s engagement, execution of the assignment and expert testimony.

“Applications in Litigation Valuation: A Pragmatist’s Guide” (ISBN: 978-1-935328-27-8) is a 330-page soft cover book. It is available for $75 ($60 for Appraisal Institute members). Click here or call 888-756-4624 to order.

The Appraisal Institute is a global membership association of professional real estate appraisers, with nearly 23,000 members in nearly 60 countries throughout the world. Its mission is to advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies, and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide. Organized in 1932, the Appraisal Institute advocates equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the appraisal profession and conducts its activities in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Members of the Appraisal Institute benefit from an array of professional education and advocacy programs, and may hold the prestigious MAI, SRPA and SRA designations. Learn more at www.appraisalinstitute.org.

The Appraisal Institute is a global membership association of professional real estate appraisers, with nearly 23,000 members in nearly 60 countries throughout the world. Its mission is to advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies, and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide. Organized in 1932, the Appraisal Institute advocates equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the appraisal profession and conducts its activities in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Members of the Appraisal Institute benefit from an array of professional education and advocacy programs, and may hold the prestigious MAI, SRPA and SRA designations. Learn more at www.appraisalinstitute.org.